CALL: 0203 146 6755
A study of over 500 patients with chronic low back pain found a 65% average reduction in pain following a course of IDD Therapy, with pain relief averaging 78% at one-year follow-up — indicating that improvements were sustained well beyond the treatment period itself.¹
A separate study of 60 patients with low back pain lasting longer than three months reported a statistically significant reduction in pain, from an average score of 61 to 32 on a 100-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), alongside a significant improvement in disability scores (Oswestry Disability Index).²
A 2026 retrospective study of patients with MRI-confirmed cervical and lumbar disc bulges and herniations, who completed a course of 30 IDD Therapy sessions, found mean pain scores (VAS) fell from 5.8 to 1.5, and disability scores (ODI) improved from 18.5 to 6.5 — both statistically significant, large-magnitude improvements (p < .0001), with no adverse events reported.³
Research comparing IDD Therapy to an intensive physiotherapy programme of lumbar stabilisation exercises found IDD Therapy achieved comparable results, with both approaches producing meaningful reductions in pain over a one-year period — supporting IDD Therapy as a genuine evidence-based alternative within a broader non-surgical treatment pathway.⁴
Please note that IDD Therapy is best considered as part of a broader, personalised treatment plan with appropriate rehab and management — most appropriate for patients with a confirmed disc-related diagnosis who haven’t found relief through standard conservative treatment, rather than a guaranteed solution for all back or neck pain.
IDD Therapy is delivered as a structured course of treatment, typically building up over several weeks, since the disc responds gradually to repeated, controlled decompression. Your practitioner will assess your condition and progress throughout your course and adjust your plan accordingly — some patients notice improvement within the first few sessions, while others need a longer course to see the fullest benefit.
IDD Therapy is generally comfortable and shouldn't be painful — many patients find the gentle, controlled traction relaxing, and some even doze off during treatment. Pressure is carefully calibrated to your specific condition and gradually increased over your course of treatment as your body adapts.
Unlike standard traction, which applies a general pulling force across the whole spine, IDD Therapy uses computer-controlled technology to target a specific disc or spinal segment with precise, calibrated pulling and holding cycles. This allows more targeted, effective treatment of the exact area causing your symptoms, rather than a generalised stretch.
IDD Therapy is commonly used to treat disc herniation and bulging discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and chronic neck or lower back pain, particularly where symptoms are linked to pressure on a specific disc or spinal segment and haven't responded to standard conservative treatment.
Yes — a number of published clinical studies have reported significant improvements in pain and disability scores following a course of IDD Therapy, including in patients with confirmed disc herniations and bulges. Results vary between studies and individuals, and IDD Therapy tends to be most effective for patients with a confirmed disc-related diagnosis, rather than general back pain. Your practitioner can talk you through the evidence most relevant to your specific condition.
Some patients feel mild soreness or stiffness after their first few sessions, similar to starting a new form of exercise, which typically settles as the course progresses. Serious side effects are rare when treatment is carried out by a qualified practitioner following a thorough assessment.
IDD Therapy is generally very safe, but it isn't suitable for everyone. Conditions such as spinal fractures, certain spinal instabilities, pregnancy, or specific surgical hardware may mean IDD Therapy isn't appropriate. Your practitioner will review your history and any relevant imaging before starting treatment to confirm it's suitable for you.
Yes — this is a core part of how we deliver IDD Therapy. We combine IDD sessions with hands-on osteopathy and manual therapy as part of our in-house combination approach, addressing both the disc pressure being treated and any surrounding joint or muscular restriction contributing to your pain.
Some patients notice an improvement in pain within the first few sessions, though for most disc-related conditions, the fullest benefit builds gradually over the full course of treatment as the disc and surrounding tissue respond to repeated decompression.
Not always, but where you have a recent MRI or existing imaging, it's very helpful for confirming a disc-related diagnosis and identifying the exact segment to target. If you don't have imaging, your practitioner will carry out a full clinical assessment to determine whether IDD Therapy is appropriate, and may refer you for imaging first if needed.